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47 2 The History and Politics of regionalism and integration in east africa Hannington ochwada this chapter explores and analyzes the history and politics of regionalism and integration in east africa. While the process of forging regionalism and integration entails the establishment of structural conformity, it is important to consider and assess the historical realities that have impacted the process. Cognizant of germane historical conditions shaping the general process of integration in africa, i analyze the challenges of politically integrating the east african great lakes region since the early 1960s, such as the political ideologies, economic orientation, language, and cultural differences. The leaders of kenya, uganda, tanzania, rwanda, and burundi have largely defined the processes of regionalism and integration without considering the local, historical, “bottom-up” patterns of cooperation that have existed in the region since precolonial times. Consequently, they have emphasized schemes of economic integration at the expense of social integration. While economic integration theoretically holds promise for the commercial development of the region as outlined by the east african Community (eaC), i argue that a renewed effort towards integrating the great lakes countries ought to emphasize the participation of civil society in debating and popularizing the language and practice of rights—democracy, gender, and social and legal justice. This calls for more participation of individuals in constitutional debates and amendments to enhance regional citizenship and mutual coexistence for stability and security within the region. a move towards integration provides space for a wider terrain of social interaction and self-actualization of individuals and citizenship within the region. Partnership and 48 | The Great Lakes Region collective action is crucial for development, and, therefore, enlarging the social terrain of interaction could pay dividends in both economic and political terms. However, to achieve this as an adequate policy reformulation, new terms of integration should be undertaken to lessen distinctions that ascribe specific characteristics to different states of east africa, characteristics that define individuals as kenyans, tanzanians, ugandans, rwandans, or burundians. That is, the constitutionality of integration must be worked out in terms of a reasonable theory of integration: one that provides for a shared space to pursue sociopolitical and economic activities across national borders and transcends the concerns and interests of top political leaders (see Mutua 2009, 5–9). The last thirty years have provided scholars with evidence of the collapse of numerous states and the sharpening of ethnic strife globally, from eastern europe to sudan. This has given rise to a searching need for avenues to create and/or reinforce common identities, which would lessen the likelihood of violence and insecurity in subregions worldwide and provide impetus for a framework for cooperation (unrisd 1994, 1–9). it is my view that east africans could draw from emerging trends in globalization to make their national borders less obstructive and more open to human interaction, the promotion of human rights, and the provision of security. a “good neighborliness” approach to their affairs could enable the people of east africa to resolve the insecurity and conflict dogging the politics of the great lakes region (afrika-studiecentrum 2007, 6–7; ajulu 2007, 53–56; salih and Markakis 1998, 7–13). a new attempt towards integration could also enable citizens of the region to stabilize, enhance, and realize the full potential of their human resources for progress and development. This would also lessen the problem of refugees, which has impacted the process of development within the region. east african states have previously concentrated refugees from rwanda, burundi, uganda, democratic republic of Congo (drC), sudan, and somalia in the various camps within the region. in other instances, refugees and immigrants have been denied employment because of their citizenship (see ninsin 2008, 1–19; Mamdani 2001, 1–45; Malkki 1995, 8–25). earlier forms of integration emphasized economic factors and the role of the states in alleviating the grave problems of poverty and other social injustices that people experienced. for example, three of the east african countries—kenya, tanzania, and uganda—established interstate parastatals, such as the east african airways and the east african railway services and Ports authority, in 1967. With such strong state involvement in activities of individuals, the east african leaders perceived economic integration and cooperation as a panacea for the diverse development setbacks that their region suffered. Yet purely state and economic-driven approaches to the problems dogging the region have been limiting and exclusive, to say the least. This is because they focused on the role of the state rather than the...

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